john varvatos ‘SKIN’ : product review

American fashion designer John Varvatos got his start working for both Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein before founding his own line. Over the past decade he has received various accolades from the fashionista community for his modern, elegant menswear.

Now, he’s decided to venture into new territory:  men’s grooming products.

A skincare line named, quite aptly ‘SKIN’ was designed in collaboration with Shiseido Laboratories, considered the world’s foremost skin experts. 

In approaching the project, Varvatos set out to insure the highest quality ingredients were chosen based on their appropriateness for men’s skin, which as he points out in the press kit is important because:

“A man’s skin is different.  Women’s skincare products, no matter how opulent, no matter how high-tech, connot effectively treat a man’s skin”

The line is built on four key ideas:

• EASY WEARABILITY - Simple to use, uncomplicated, masculine formulas that don’t require a strict ‘regimen’.
• QUALITY - Formulas created by the world’s leading skin care scientists.  Ingredients featuring natural extracts, vitamins and nutrients known for their skin benefits.
• AUTHENTICITY - Developed from scratch specifically for men’s skin. 
• LUXURY - Beyond effectiveness and ease of use?  “Skin care rooted in pleasure.. inside masculine, functional bottles are formulas that feed the senses.  Smooth, cool, rich, refreshing”

There are two groups of products in the line.  The first is the “Core products” that includes traditional skin care items (shaving cream, moisturizers, etc).  The second is what Varvatos refers to as “Ground breaking products”.  These are items that are unique to SKIN.

For my review, I received three of the core products and one of the ground breaking products.

CORE PRODUCTS:

HYDRATING FACE MOISTURIZER

With a diverse group of ingredients that ranges from ‘tocopheryl acetate’ (which moisturizes and counteracts oxidents to prevent free-radical damage) to sweet almond oil (softens and smoothes) and even green tea extract (invigorates and awakens the skin) the Hydrating Face Moisurizer sounds great on paper.

After using it for a week (which was the time I spent with each of the products):

THE GOOD

• Leaves skin smooth
• Almost scentless, so it won’t interfere with your aftershave / cologne

THE NOT SO GOOD

• Somewhat annoying ‘pump’ action dispenser that seemed pretty stingy spitting the product out
• Slightly greasy feeling on initial application (once dry however this goes away)
• No SPF protection

THE VERDICT

My least favorite of the products I checked out, mainly because it’s impossible to believe there’s a daily moisturizer without any protection from the sun, especially at this price point ($30).

POST SHAVE COOLING GEL

SKIN’s “Post shave cooling gel” features a fine collection of ingredients for taking the edge off the daily grind of the blade against your face; aloe vera gel (hydrates and soothes), green tea extract (awakens and invigorates) and even witch hazel (helps with love spells for your soon to be stalker ex-girlfriend).

The most amazing thing about this product to me, was the truth in advertising. 

I for one have seen plenty of post-shave products claim to be ‘cooling and invigorating’ that never live up to the hype.  SKIN’s was amazing.  I literally felt the coolness linger for some time after my shave, and there really was an energizing, ‘tingling’ sensation I noticed immediately.

I typically shave at night just before going out on the town (I’d rather look my best for the ladies than my coworkers) but for people shaving in the morning, this stuff is sure to help wake you up.

THE GOOD

• Delivers on it’s promised side effects:  cools and invigorates
• Leaves skin smooth and supple

THE NOT SO GOOD

• No complaints on this one, way to go Varvatos.

FACIAL SCRUB

Next up is the Facial Scrub exfoliator. 

In my experience with men’s grooming products, I’ve never trusted ‘acid based’ exfoliators to get the job done right.  There’s something very manly and tactile about feeling exfoliating ‘beads’ scrubbing away the dead skin that I’ve always preferred.  Varvatos’ includes “Hydrogenated Jojoba Wax Exfoliating Beads” which promise to exfoliate and cleanse without irritation.  In my experience, they definitely delivered. 

The product also features an incredibly wide variety of botanical extracts that contribute not only to the cleansing process (helping to mositurize, calm and soothe) but also account for the scent. 

And oh what a scent it is. 

An absolutely electrified mint essence that smells like something out of Monet painting.  Truly a feast for the nose, the smell also helped perk me up on a couple of post-nightclub hangover tinged, groggy mornings during my trial week.  Added benefit:  every girl who smelled it was swooning for it.  A nice perk. 

THE GOOD

• Gently clenses with exfoliating beads
• An incredible smell that almost defies description

THE NOT SO GOOD

• No complaints.

THE VERDICT

Probably my favorite product of the four I tried.  I will definitely continue using this.

GROUND BREAKING PRODUCTS:

PORE REFINING MATTIFIER

I have a confession to make.  I’m a shiny forehead.  Perhaps I should say “I have a shiny forehead”.  The former just sounded better.  Either way, this iridescent forehead of mine has plagued me since high school where those in my inner circle would mercilessly tease me about it. 

I have to admit, when I first received the products for review, I had no idea what a “Pore Refining Mattifier” was (which isn’t too surprising since, according to Varvatos, it’s the first product of its kind).  I just knew the press kit raved about its “advanced pore reducing formula” and it being a ’shine control serum’.

I tried some on the first morning after a shower and my jaw dropped.  Instantaneously, my shiny noggin was gone.  In it’s place, a balanced ‘matte’ finished work of art that matched the rest of my face’s natural non-shiny tone perfectly.  Following the recommended use of the products called for me to use the moisturizer afterwards.  Unfortunately, this added back much of the shine the mattifier had removed.

THE GOOD

• Reduces, nay, REMOVES the shine from your forehead / nose instantly
• Leaves skin feeling smooth and natural
• Helps even out overall skin tone. 

THE NOT SO GOOD

• Following instructions (by applying moisturizer afterwards) counteracts much of the benefit

THE VERDICT

I really like the mattifier, but will probably use it for special occasions (interviews, dates, events) without using moisturizer afterwards. 

SUMMARY

The John Varvatos “SKIN” line is a high quality, men-centric set of tools you can use to improve your face’s health and appearance.  The complete line is 12 products deep, and I would definitely be interested in trying the ones I’ve missed.

John Varvatos SKIN

-Cash